Black Cat Weekly #86

Chapter 6

byDetective Kerri Marcum watched as her Uncle Norm approached, a downcast look on his face. Her favorite uncle had called her that morning, pleading with her to come to his downtown office ASAP. “Unc,” she said, “what’s so urgent that you got me out of bed on my day off?”

“Somebody stole my shoes!” Norm Jennings blurted out. “They were right here on the desk, and somebody took them.”

“Now just hold on a second,” said Kerri, glancing down at her uncle’s loafers. “Why in the world would anybody take your shoes?”

“My new shoes,” said Jennings, “my new running shoes. The big race is at noon, and now I’ll have to run in my old pair.”

Kerri shook her head. “Unc, I know the Octoberfest Dash for Cash is a big deal, but—”

“You don’t understand, Kerri. Remember last year’s debacle when I was in the lead with 20 yards to go only to trip on my shoelaces and take an embarrassing fall? Well, without telling anyone, I ordered an expensive pair of custom running shoes that slip on with no laces. They were going to be my secret weapon.”

“OK,” said Kerri, “when did you realize the shoes were missing?”

“I set the box on my desk right before I went to the diner for breakfast. When I returned, the shoes were gone.”

“Did you lock the office?” said Kerri, her investigative juices starting to flow.

Her uncle nodded.

“Besides you and Aunt Della, who has a key?”

“Well, Benton, of course,” said Jennings, referring to his longtime business partner. “And Shirley, our office manager.”

“Anybody else?” said Kerri.

Jennings furrowed his brow. “Oh yes, I just gave a key to Josh Cunningham. He’s been doing some remodeling for us.”

“Is that everybody?”

Jennings nodded. “Why would one of them take my shoes?”

“That’s what we need to find out,” said Kerri.

Kerri eliminated Benton Crosby from the list of possible suspects immediately when her uncle told her his partner had been out of town all week on business.

Shirley Latta came off the list as well after a phone call to her house confirmed her husband’s claim that the office manager had spent the morning packing for a weekend trip they had planned to a nearby lake.

With her list dramatically reduced, Kerri found Josh Cunningham at the tent where runners were signing in for the big race. “Mr. Cunningham,” she said, purposefully not flashing her badge, “I’m Norm Jennings’ niece. Could I have a moment of your time?”

“Better make it quick,” said the athletic young man. “The race starts in a few minutes, and I need to get in some stretching.”

“I was just wondering,” said Kerri, not wanting to push too hard, “what have you been doing this morning?”

Cunningham looked at Kerri, obviously puzzled. “Why?”

“Something’s gone missing from my uncle’s office, and I know you have a key.”

Cunningham’s body tensed. “You don’t think I took something from Mr. Jennings’ office?”

“I’m not accusing you of anything,” said Kerri, considering showing her badge.

“Look, Ms…”

“Marcum.”

“I just got here,” said Cunningham. “I was on a job across town all morning, and my crew can vouch for me.”

As Kerri took her seat on the bleachers near the race’s finish line, she was greeted by her Aunt Della. “So glad you could make the race,” said the slender woman who looked fit enough to compete herself.

“But I’m afraid I let Uncle Norm down,” said Kerri.

“How so?” said Della.

“He had something stolen from his office this morning, and I can’t figure out who took it or why?”

“Sometimes it’s better to have faith in your ability, my dear, than in some new-fangled gimmick,” said Della with an impish grin.

Kerri grimaced. “The fourth key! And I call myself a detective.”

When her aunt hinted that she knew about the laceless shoes Norm had kept secret, Kerri figured that Della must have used her key to the office and taken them. With a smile. Kerri’s aunt admitted the “theft,” claiming that when she had accidentally seen the receipt for the expensive shoes, she sensed that her husband was putting more faith in the shoes than his running skills. Della took the shoes in hopes of renewing Norm’s lost confidence. Sure enough, Norm Jennings won the Dash for Cash—strings attached.